STEM OPT Research Technician Jobs
Research Technician roles sit squarely within STEM OPT eligibility, supporting up to 24 months of additional work authorization beyond your initial OPT period. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before you start. A STEM degree in a qualifying field, life sciences, engineering, chemistry, or a related discipline, is required to extend.
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Get Access To All JobsScheduled Hours
40
Position Summary
Responsible for providing specialized animal husbandry and performing associated duties in a research setting. Assists with the technical aspects of studies and experiments, including documentation and preparation of materials.
Job Description
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
- Assists with research studies, experiments and assays including collection of data, preparation of solutions and set-up and maintenance of equipment.
- Provides all aspects of general husbandry to germ-free or gnotobiotic mice.
- Prepares, sterilizes, and maintains inventory of supplies.
- Assists with colony management and maintaining associated records.
- Assembles, takes down, reassembles and sterilizes isolator units.
- Performs data entry and maintains data files on research.
- Performs general lab maintenance and cleaning.
- Maintains seamless communication with all facility staff and supervisors.
- Complies with established safety procedures and maintains required documentation on laboratory and specimen conditions.
- Ensures lab conditions and equipment are properly cleaned and maintained in accordance with established procedures.
Working conditions:
- Works within an animal facility with potential exposure to biological, chemical and radioactive hazards.
- Must be physically able to wear PPE.
- Ability to provide standard care to research animals and apply this to specialized requirements of gnotobiotic housing.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
Required Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.
Certifications/Professional Licenses:
No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.
Work Experience:
No specific work experience is required for this position.
Skills:
Not Applicable
Driver's License:
A driver's license is not required for this position.
More About This Job
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working with mice.
- The ideal candidate will have up to one year of experience in a laboratory setting.
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Certifications/Professional Licenses:
No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Work Experience:
No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Skills:
Communication, Computer Software, Detailed Reports, Laboratory Instrumentation, Laboratory Research, Working Independently
Grade
R06-H
Salary Range
$16.92 - $26.44 / Hourly
The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.
Questions
For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.
Accommodation
If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.
All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.
Benefits Statement
Personal
- Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
- Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
- Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
- WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
Wellness
- Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
Family
- We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.
- WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.
For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/
EEO Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
Scheduled Hours
40
Position Summary
Responsible for providing specialized animal husbandry and performing associated duties in a research setting. Assists with the technical aspects of studies and experiments, including documentation and preparation of materials.
Job Description
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
- Assists with research studies, experiments and assays including collection of data, preparation of solutions and set-up and maintenance of equipment.
- Provides all aspects of general husbandry to germ-free or gnotobiotic mice.
- Prepares, sterilizes, and maintains inventory of supplies.
- Assists with colony management and maintaining associated records.
- Assembles, takes down, reassembles and sterilizes isolator units.
- Performs data entry and maintains data files on research.
- Performs general lab maintenance and cleaning.
- Maintains seamless communication with all facility staff and supervisors.
- Complies with established safety procedures and maintains required documentation on laboratory and specimen conditions.
- Ensures lab conditions and equipment are properly cleaned and maintained in accordance with established procedures.
Working conditions:
- Works within an animal facility with potential exposure to biological, chemical and radioactive hazards.
- Must be physically able to wear PPE.
- Ability to provide standard care to research animals and apply this to specialized requirements of gnotobiotic housing.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
Required Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.
Certifications/Professional Licenses:
No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.
Work Experience:
No specific work experience is required for this position.
Skills:
Not Applicable
Driver's License:
A driver's license is not required for this position.
More About This Job
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working with mice.
- The ideal candidate will have up to one year of experience in a laboratory setting.
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Certifications/Professional Licenses:
No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Work Experience:
No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Skills:
Communication, Computer Software, Detailed Reports, Laboratory Instrumentation, Laboratory Research, Working Independently
Grade
R06-H
Salary Range
$16.92 - $26.44 / Hourly
The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.
Questions
For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.
Accommodation
If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.
All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.
Benefits Statement
Personal
- Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
- Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
- Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
- WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
Wellness
- Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
Family
- We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.
- WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.
For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/
EEO Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
See all 415+ Research Technician jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Research Technician roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Research Technician
Verify your CIP code before applying
Your STEM OPT extension depends on your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code matching a STEM-designated field. Check your DSO's records against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List before submitting Form I-983 to avoid a denial based on an ineligible degree.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Research institutions, universities, and private labs vary widely in E-Verify enrollment status. Ask the HR contact for their E-Verify Company ID or search the E-Verify employer search tool directly, your STEM OPT authorization is invalid if your employer isn't enrolled before your start date.
Target labs with active federal research funding
Federal contractors and grant recipients, NIH, NSF, and DOE-funded labs, are typically already enrolled in E-Verify as a condition of their funding. Research Technician postings tied to federal grants are a reliable filter for finding compliant employers without having to ask upfront.
Use Migrate Mate to filter Research Technician roles by sponsorship history
Search Research Technician listings on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers based on their DOL Labor Condition Application filing history, so you can prioritize labs and research organizations that have already supported work-authorized employees in similar roles.
Build your I-983 training plan around lab-specific tasks
USCIS requires your I-983 to describe how your daily Research Technician duties apply your STEM degree's coursework and methodology. Generic descriptions get flagged, document specific techniques, instruments, and analytical methods your role uses and tie each one to a concrete learning objective.
Time your application around 90-day filing windows
Your DSO must recommend the STEM OPT extension no earlier than 90 days before your initial OPT end date. Missing this window forces a gap in authorization. Coordinate with your DSO and HR to align your offer letter date, training plan approval, and I-765 filing well before that deadline.
Research Technician jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Research Technician JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Research Technician role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as biology, chemistry, engineering, or computer science, and the Research Technician role directly applies that training. The connection must be documented in your I-983 training plan. Roles in basic lab support without a clear link to your degree field may face scrutiny from USCIS during review.
How do I confirm my Research Technician employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before your STEM OPT start date, not just willing to enroll. You can verify enrollment through the E-Verify employer search tool using the organization's name or E-Verify Company ID. If they aren't enrolled, your extension approval won't authorize you to work there, regardless of your I-765 status.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Research Technician?
The I-983 must describe your specific learning objectives, the lab techniques and analytical methods you'll use, how those connect to your STEM degree curriculum, and how your employer will supervise and evaluate your progress. Generic job descriptions aren't sufficient, USCIS expects the plan to demonstrate a direct educational relationship between your degree and your daily research duties.
Does cap-gap protection apply while my STEM OPT extension is pending?
Cap-gap applies specifically to students who have an H-1B petition filed on their behalf for the upcoming fiscal year. If your employer files an H-1B petition before your OPT EAD expires, cap-gap extends your work authorization through September 30. STEM OPT itself doesn't provide cap-gap, that protection is tied to the pending H-1B, not the extension application.
Where can I find Research Technician jobs where the employer is already set up for STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate lists Research Technician roles filtered for employers with documented sponsorship history, so you're not spending time on organizations that have never supported work-authorized employees. This is especially useful in academic and biotech hiring, where E-Verify enrollment and prior OPT experience varies significantly from one lab or department to the next.
See which Research Technician employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
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